Your health club is made up a variety of “ingredients” that make up a recipe your members can use to realize fitness success. This recipe includes ingredients like treadmills, selectorized equipment and functional training tools.
Here, Keli Roberts, a master trainer and ambassador of the Kamagon Ball, explained why this “ingredient” for members is great for helping them with their goals. She has developed the Kamagon 8 Hour Instructor Training Certification, DVD content and workshops that are presented around the world.
CS: Why is the Kamagon Ball a great tool for health clubs?
KR: The Kamagon Ball is one of the most user-friendly, safe and fun pieces of equipment available today. Studies have demonstrated that it more effectively targets the core musculature than a Kettlebell, plus the learning curve for the types of movements performed with it are super fast. More than anything, it’s really engaging to use, people love it, and because the amount of water is adjustable, one ball can be suitable for anyone.
For group exercise classes it’s a no-brainer. Not only does the Kamagon offer a functional approach to training, the ball is less intimidating than a Kettlebell and more like play than dumbbells. Take for example a Power Clean, the Kamagon has nice wide handles so when you Power Clean it to the “rack” position, it sits comfortably on your forearm. Most importantly it doesn’t hit and bruise your wrist, which is often the case when you’re learning a Power Clean with a Kettlebell. If you drop a Kamagon Ball on the group fitness room floor there are no consequences, it’s not going to damage the floor or the ball.
Many gym owners mistakenly believe that group fitness is not a source of revenue, and it isn’t unless you consider the retention factor. For me, the Kamagon is the perfect tool for group exercise, and since it offers such a wide variety of uses, it’s never going to sit and gather dust. Likewise for small group training, the Kamagon is a perfect fit.
CS: What’s unique or special about the Kamagon Ball?
KR: The Kamagon is unique for a number of reasons. The movement of the water inside the ball, the Hydro Inertia, is particularly interesting. It’s a moving mass inside a mass! When training with the Kamagon Ball, the Hydro Inertia provides dynamic, unpredictable instability. The two handles also allow for multiple grip options and that offers an endless creative exercise selection.
While most balance training is performed on an unstable surface, often while manipulating stable objects, training with the Kamagon Ball is the opposite: instead you stand on a stable surface and manipulate an unstable object. Add the fact that the center of mass of the ball is outside of the hand (unlike dumbbells where the center of mass of the bell is inside the hand), there’s significant environmental similarity and carryover into activities of daily living and sports performance.
Take movement patterns such as walking a dog or carrying shopping bags, the potential for transference is greater since many such daily activities require the manipulation of unstable objects that have a center of mass outside of the hand. From a biomechanical perspective it’s fascinating and it’s packaged in this adaptable, fun-to-use ball that’s not at all intimidating.
CS: What are the benefits to members?
KR: Experience drives participation and since the Kamagon Ball is such fun to use it naturally creates great experiences. Swinging, tossing, flipping and all the engaging exercises you can perform with it are easy to learn, while at the same time, safe and effective. It’s a real win-win. As soon as someone starts to exercise with it, you see a look of realization on their face — the Hydro Inertia immediately lets you know that the Kamagon is like nothing else.
CS: What type of programming can you create around the Kamagon Ball?
KR: I’ve created all sorts of programming with the Kamagon Ball, high intensity interval training (HIIT) is perfect since many of the exercises train power endurance, adding some plyometric moves with the ball works incredibly well. I’ve also created integrated core training programs with a functional approach. By borrowing exercises such as swings, Halos, Windmills and Turkish Get-ups from traditional KettleBell training, a highly effective core-training program is made even better by the Hydro Inertia.
One of my favorite programs is a total body-conditioning workout that focuses on training the body as an integrated whole, with multi-muscle, multi-joint, multi-planar movement sequences. Borrowing from traditional KettleBell movements and linking them in a smooth flowing progression is a fun and functional way to train the body. This program not only trains power endurance, core stability and mobility, it’s easy to learn and leaves your body feeling energized and strong.
For personal training I’ve found the Kamagon highly adaptable. From power endurance training with Swings, Power Cleans, Snatches, to the most subtle balance drills, the versatility is incredible. I have clients of all ages, all abilities, all fitness levels, training with the ball in some way.
CS: Why is having functional tools like the Kamagon Ball important for health clubs?
KR: Health clubs need to be offering cutting edge equipment and classes to their members. Functional training is not a trend, it’s method that’s here to stay. Gym goers are more educated and savvy than ever, they expect to see the latest tools, especially the functional ones. The Kamagon Ball offers so many training options, all made more effective with the Hydro Inertia.
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